LOS ANGELES – Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has acknowledged that he fathered a child with a member of his household staff, a revelation that apparently prompted wife Maria Shriver to leave the couple's home before they announced their separation last week.

Shriver separately issued a statement saying it was a "heartbreaking time," and one of their children, Patrick, expressed sadness and a yearning for normalcy in a Twitter message.

Schwarzenegger and Shriver jointly announced May 9 that they were splitting up after 25 years of marriage. Yet, Shriver moved out of the family's Brentwood mansion earlier in the year after Schwarzenegger acknowledged the child is his, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

"After leaving the governor's office I told my wife about this event, which occurred over a decade ago," Schwarzenegger told the Times on Monday in a statement that was later sent to The Associated Press. "I understand and deserve the feelings of anger and disappointment among my friends and family. There are no excuses and I take full responsibility for the hurt I have caused. I have apologized to Maria, my children and my family. I am truly sorry.

"I ask that the media respect my wife and children through this extremely difficult time," the statement concluded. "While I deserve your attention and criticism, my family does not..."

Well, not to say that the Governator was right in his dealings, but being that Maria is a member of the Kennedys' (and the follies in that family) you'd think nothing would suprise her anymore...

Uhm yeh, this scandal has little if anything to do with the KENNEDYS. It's about SCHWARZENEGGER cheating on his wife, having unprotected sex in the age of AIDS, fathering a child and hiding it for 10 years including financial support. Meanwhile the woman continued to work for the family until January of this year (that's 20 years she worked for them at least 10 of which in a deceptive role). It's disgusting and I don't think MARIA SCHRIVER deserves any potshots.

It's about SCHWARZENEGGER cheating on his wife, having unprotected sex in the age of AIDS, fathering a child and hiding it for 10 years including financial support. Meanwhile the woman continued to work for the family until January of this year (that's 20 years she worked for them at least 10 of which in a deceptive role). It's disgusting and I don't think MARIA SCHRIVER deserves any potshots.

I used to say I live my life a quarter mile at a time and I think that's why we were brothers- because you did, too. No matter where you are, whether it's a quarter mile away or half way across the world. The most important thing in life will always be the people in this room. Salute mi familia. You'll always be with me... And you'll always be my brother.

I've heard there's now a big race among the paparazzi to find and get a picture of this kid, supposedly the first one to do so will get a rather sizable amount of money (some have said upwards to one million.)

The kid (and mother)'s life probably isn't going to be that restful for awhile.

It's not just Hollywood! Very, very few people in the public eye are suitable as all-round role models. Unless they are celebrated for being role models. Unfortunately you are dealing with a culture that idolizes success as defined by wealth and celebrity. Success is all that counts: not how one behaves or how one got there. Sports stars, entertainers of any kind, business tycoons, people whose only claim to fame is being rich, many politicians (aren't they really just successful businessmen - and actors - of a sort?), even (gasp!) some so-called religious leaders and so on do NOT merit emulation in all aspects and unqualified adulation. They just don't.

It is foolish (and ultimately unfair) to assume that because a person is famous and successful in their field, they must have 'earned' it by being an all-round good person as well. That is a very antiquated notion: that great rewards result only from being a 'good guy'. Not everyone has it in them to live up to high standards in all aspects of their lives. The obvious fact is that precious few do. The best most of us can do is to continue to try.